i find myself striving to be something better, trying to make it past the line the ones before me fell before. building the strength and the courage to make it to the morning light and the evening sun. tears are falling, and sweat is dripping as i fight to escape what is holding me back. its hard to accomplish your dreams when your up to your knees in set back. when you have the plan and lack the means an overwhelming feeling of helplessness floods your gut, hurts your head, and squeezes your heart, only pressuring you to push harder. ♥tristen

Jun 4th, 2012

inkedlips:

I found love once. It snuck underneath my rolling eyes and wrapped itself around me, it traced the shape of your smile and shoved it down my throat into the place of my pulse. Now my heart beats your laughter and it drowns my own soul flooding my ambition with the thing it can’t find. I saw past…

you can never lose sight of who you are. who you are in God’s eyes. a masterpiece, the apple of His eye, victorious, glorious, beautifully breathtaking, wonderfully resilient, all powerful. focus your attention on Him and Him alone for there is no one else who can see above the maze that is your life, no one else who can give you purer joy, purer happiness, and purer love. the love that will see you through ♥tristen

May 15th, 2012 

on repeat ♥

Apr 13th, 2012

so let me start off by saying that this post is going to be a bit different than some of my other ones… a little less poetic i guess you could say and certainly motivating!

so a few weekends ago i had the privilege to participate in what is called a “leadership summit” in which a group of nominated students spends the weekend at a YMCA retreat center and essentially learns about the concept of leadership through various workshops. the results of the weekend are mind-blowing to say the least, and for those of you out there who haven’t participated in such an event, i would like to share a few things that i discovered!

first of all the power of human connection is extraordinary, and i was amazed how a group of college students practically meeting for the first time could come to love each other so much within 48 hours! unreal! learning about everyone’s background and life stories and where they are today and where they want to be has simply inspired and empowered me to be the best leader that i can be! its an amazing feeling! 

one of my favorite quotes of the weekend was “in everything there is a crack, and that is where the light shines through” BEAUTIFUL. seriously we have all been through our fair share of unfortunate circumstances, some even more than others, but our scars make us who we are today and instill drive and passion in someone’s heart and that was amazing to see! i think it is so so important to take time out of our busy schedules and just breathe! just empty the cluttered spaces in your mind and think about what really makes you happy! for me its always been making other people smile and just helping others in general!  the first priority in your life is true joy and happiness! i can’t express this enough! 

basically to wrap up everything that i learned at summit…lead by example! if you are living your life according to your passions and doing everything in your power to reach your goals and be the best you you can be, people will follow! and it is also important to develop a support network who you can rely on to help you stay committed and remind you just how amazing you can be, and the impact that you can have on others lives just by  being yourself and living your dreams! amen to that! over and out! ♥tristen

Apr 6th, 2012

inkedlips:

You’re close to my heart like sunshine and cuddles and blood.

You are beautiful like my mirror.

Don’t forget me because I’ve left.

Remember me because I love you.

Remember because I forget the things that should be treasured.

Forget the mountains and the prairies. Forget the time…

click and read this…seriously

inkedlips:

So often in life we are foolish enough to think we have to work for things; trying to earn grace, trying to make peace, trying to win love. All the while there they are laid out before us, waiting to be grasped. We’ve got an ever present grace in time of need, there’s a peace that passes…

maybe its because i’m striving to be better, or maybe its because i never want someone to feel the pain that i have felt for so long. when enough people let you down in your life you have to wonder whats real and whats all a lie. when the purest of intentions leads to constant disappointment, you have to wonder…what is the purpose of a promise if only to be broken? what is the purpose of a dream if only to be shattered? at some point you become so numb to the world, so numb to all your open wounds, that you can hardly feel anything at all. it is when at the end of the day you can stare at the ceiling, and think about how you got to this place alive, you know you’re strong, and you know life is worth the living. ♥tristen

Feb 13th, 2012

nautical nails :)

Feb 6th, 2012